5 UK companies that filed false and forged accounts have been shut down

Recently, five companies identified as having filed false and forged accounts were successfully shut down in the public interest, as a result of the UK Government's shared partnership in action.

• Referrals made by Companies House informed the Insolvency Service’s investigation and the eventual petitioning of the High Court in Manchester to shut down these companies.
• The court agreed, and the businesses were later shut down in July 2025.

The five were:

• Automarket Europe Limited
• Integra Group Limited
• Maxell Limited
• Montana & Montana Limited
• Supermarket Plus Ltd

The 5

• All filed fraudulent accounts claiming to have generated hundreds of millions of pounds in turnover and profits but had not carried out any genuine business activity.
• The companies were listed at shared office addresses across South London and Croydon and claimed to trade with local car dealerships and major supermarkets.
• There was no evidence of any such dealing having ever taken place.

Investigations by the Insolvency Service, in collaboration with Companies House, found that these businesses' accounts were wildly inaccurate.

• Automarket Europe Limited reported assets rising from £629,000 to £84 million in a single year
• Integra Group Limited claimed £302 million in turnover with £186 million profit
• Maxell Limited’s accounts showed a £440 million turnover despite having no evidence of genuine trading
• Montana & Montana Limited falsely named reputable auditors
• Supermarket Plus Ltd claimed £642 million in turnover and £330 million in profit

These accounts

• Were factually incorrect
• Misused the names of legitimate accountancy firms to create a false impression of credibility.

Protecting the integrity of the register

• strong partnerships with agencies like the Insolvency Service, so that Companies House can now fully use its powers and take decisive action when suspicious activity is detected.
• The speed at which we can identify misuse of the register and make referrals to partners and law enforcement has increased exponentially.
• Protecting the integrity of the companies’ register is crucial, so that this data can be used to make informed decisions in our joint efforts to eliminate rogue companies from the UK corporate landscape.

Building confidence in the UK business environment

• The ongoing collaboration between Companies House and the Insolvency Service demonstrates how the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act has empowered government agencies to act swiftly.
• Shared intelligence, data analysis and enhanced enforcement powers will continue to target networks of organised criminals and accelerate the removal of inaccurate information from the register, disrupting the flow of criminal currency.
• These actions form part of a broader approach across several UK government departments to combat and prevent economic crime.  

Stronger structures and shared intelligence

• Significant structural improvements to our collaborative processes mean that information can now be shared between agencies more quickly and securely.
• Companies HOUSE now share and analyses information on directors, addresses, and filings, which helps us identify patterns of suspicious activity. This helps to uncover the links between companies whose connections have been purposefully blurred to appear unrelated.
• This collaborative work also enables Companies House to make rapid referrals to the Insolvency Service when it uncovers filings believed to be false or fraudulent.
• The Insolvency Service can then use its powers to petition the courts to wind up companies that are failing to operate in the public interest, disqualify rogue directors, and prosecute fraudsters and other economic criminals.
• The agency can also secure compensation and separate confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Source

https://companieshouse.blog.gov.uk/2025/11/28/collaborating-with-the-insolvency-service-to-tackle-economic-crime/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=